Hybrid Self-Training

The Hybrid Self-Training program provides the most support - it is a hybrid between a self-trained DAD and a professionally trained DAD. 

This program is for those who either have a qualified dog at home ready to train, or who would like MD Dogs to help find a suitable dog. Once a dog is chosen, an MD Dogs trainer is involved throughout the entire process of your dog's training. 

​For the first few months, you will provide your dog with the foundations that a Service Dog puppy needs and your trainer will provide you with the monthly support of Guided Self-Training, sending you training plans, frequently checking in over Zoom, and reviewing videos you send in, to ensure you and your pup stay on track. 

When your dog is ready for formal training, usually after 8-12 months, your dog will come to your MD Dogs trainer for public access training and scent training. This will take 4-6 months and afterwards we will transition your dog back to you to teach you all the new skills your dog learned and how to keep up its training. Because the individual is raising their own dog in this scenario, the cost of this program is about 50% of a fully trained DAD.

​If you may be interested in this program, we will start with a free consultation over Zoom to learn more about you and if this hybrid program is a good fit for you. ​

$11,800

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Success Stories

​"Libby makes things easy to understand and FUN! She is a joy to watch and she is so encouraging."
-LEXIE, T2D

​"Before I found M.D. Dogs, I was lost. My dog was alerting ok, but was struggling in public and was lacking confidence in herself and in her alerting. After I read the M.D. Dogs workbook and watched the videos it was a life changer for me and my dog. Watching Libby train Franklyn on Instagram made me see was real Diabetic Alert Dog training looked like. My faith in having a solid working Diabetic Alert Dog was restored. A long while later and now my dog not only rocks movement alerts, but is also trained to low blood sugar alerts with a bringsel (which is something I had never thought of using for an alert!) and is a dog that I trust to alert me in just about every situation. I've gotten so many compliments on her behavior when I'm in public, and at many JDRF events she's always the most well behaved Diabetic Alert Dog there. she's such a happier dog now and I'm a safer diabetic because of M.D. Dogs. Thank you Libby and M.D. Dogs!"
- KELSEY, T1D

​"Libby is very knowledgeable and professional as well as an excellent trainer. After attending her MD Dogs Diabetic Alert Dog seminar I am excited to be able to help other owner/trainers who need support while training their DAD."
- JAN, Trainer

​"I had researched scent training methods for over a year, before my pup came into my life. I felt discouraged at first and I honestly thought that I couldn't train my own diabetic alert dog, until I found M.D. Dogs! Libby's workbook is user-friendly and she's always so nice and helpful if you need further assistance. Thanks to M.D. Dogs, my DAD Tógó, is often alerting 15-30 min. before I'm low, giving me more time to treat. My endocrinologist is seeing major improvements since Tógó started alerting with more accuracy and the times I have needed Glucagon, has greatly diminished! M.D. dogs has definitely changed our lives and gave me the confidence to train Tógó! I'm incredibly grateful to Libby and her training methods"
- SOLEY, T1D

M.D. Dogs Inc is solely funded through  grants and donations from people like you. Any donation truly makes a difference and enables us to create resources and programs to provide Diabetic Alert Dogs to those in need.